The Danger of Telling the Truth

I learned as a child that I'm a terrible liar. That is, I'm terrible at lying. I got caught every time, and eventually realized that I was better off telling the truth and taking the consequences. I don't like to let people down, and this can sometimes work to my disadvantage.

I recently learned from a CBC interview that some employers are now doing an extra little bit of research when evaluating a potential new employee. Most companies check references and credentials, but some now also check your FaceBook and MySpace pages. Yikes! Have you SEEN some of the things people put on their pages? There are certainly some people I would NEVER hire if I thought their pages reflected their true personality. The problem is, people tend to let loose and go for the entertainment value, trying to amuse their friends and blow off steam.

This leads to an interesting dilemma for anyone seeking a new job or change of career.

I have experienced a great deal of frustration looking for a new career in a depressed economy. I am willing to blog about it, partly to keep friends and family informed and partly for educational value, as a cautionary tale. I have learned a few lessons along the way, and encountered a few frustrating circumstances that have left me mystified. If I blog about this, how might a potential employer interpret my words? We all know that it is more difficult to determine "tone of voice" with the written word, particularly when you don't know the personality of the author. One HR person might look at each new posting and conclude that I am a whiner, don't know how to solve problems, or that there must be something wrong with me if no-one else is hiring me. Another HR person might look at the same postings and be encouraged by my honesty in expressing opinions, my communication skills and willingness to share what I have learned, and my determination, creativity and persistence when solving a challenging situation.

Is there danger in telling the truth? Sure there is. But here goes....

Images of Perfection

Popular culture is filled with images of perfection. The airbrushed magazine model, the Architectural Digest home, the perfect couple, and on and on. Examining real life, it doesn't take long to recognize that perfection, like beauty, is fleeting. We think back fondly on a 'perfect' moment, but these tend to be rare.

We all need to aspire to a dream. It becomes the job of the painter, the sculptor, the photographer and the author to create these visions, these images of perfection. We may not hold these ideals in the forefront of everyday activity, but they certainly hover on the periphery and influence our subconscious. Do you have a picture pinned up somewhere that reminds you of something you dream of attaining? An inspirational quote that you sometimes muse upon? A special piece of music that transports you to another place?

It is the dreams that drive us, the images of perfection that keep us restlessly yearning for a better place, a better time, a better situation. The dreams keep us moving ahead.